Simple Drawer Box

There are so many options to choose from when selecting a style of drawer box. Do you use pocket holes? Do you dado in a 1/4″ panel for the bottom? Or do you get really crazy and cut dovetails? Well, if you’re like me, then I assume you want to do whatever will work, look good, and take the least amount of time and money. I recently took on a full kitchen remodel in our flip house and I knew I had a lot of cabinet and drawer making in my future so I visited a neighbor, friend, and cabinet-maker to steal some of his tips and tricks.

The advice that I got was that drawers don’t have to be complicated. A simple drawer can still look good and be plenty strong enough for the job. Pre-finished maple plywood from PureBond is an amazingly good-looking product and, besides edge banding, requires no finishing. Unbeknownst to most, this product is available for special order through HomeDepot.com. And you can feel good about your purchase because all PureBond plywood is formaldehyde-free and made in North America! So, while using a pre-finished product is great, the drawer construction is where you’ll notice some real differences from others. Read on to get the full scoop.

Materials

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Step 1: Measure Opening & Cut Drawer Parts

Start out by measuring the width and height of the opening you have. Then calculate the sizes of your parts using the info below. The front, back and bottom are all made from 3/4″ plywood. The sides can be made from 1/2″ plywood or 3/4″. 1/2″ is a good option if you are doing a lot of drawers and want to save some money on materials.

Step 2: Attach Front & Back to Bottom

Attach the front and back to the bottom with wood glue and 1-1/2″ brad nails or narrow crown staples. The 3/4″ front, back and bottom give you plenty of area surface area for gluing and nailing, assuring a solid drawer box and minimizing blowouts from your nailer.

Step 3: Attach Sides

Attach the sides the same way, with wood glue and 1-1/2″ brad nails or narrow crown staples. The sides will sit 1/4″ higher than the front and back, this way the ends don’t have to line up perfectly and you wont see any seams in the edge banding. Another good thing is the edge banding is less likely to be peeled up since the edges are protected by a taller board (sides will be protected by drawer front.

Step 4: Install Drawer with Slides

Mount the drawer slides to the sides of the cabinet. Assure they are level and mounted 1/4″ above the bottom of the opening. If the drawer front are inset, the draw box will need to be recessed the same depth as the thickness of the drawer front. Then place a 1/4″ shim along the bottom of the opening and set the drawer on it. With the drawer sticking out only a few inches, extend the slide to the edge of the drawer box and attach with the included screws. Then, slide out the drawer to access the middle screw hole and attach using the included screw. Finally, remove the drawer and install the final screw.

Questions? Comments?

As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to comment below and especially don’t forget to post pictures of your finished products in the comments! ENJOY!

About The Author

I'm a Christian, father, husband and aerospace engineer. In my spare time I like to engineer furniture for for the weekend DIY'er like myself. In other words, I write plans for awesome looking furniture that are so easy it will blow your mind! (No woodworking experience required.)

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Disclaimer: Almost any DIY project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Rogue Engineer has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions provided on this website. Rogue Engineer will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.